quote:What you are suggesting would have been a complete waste of concrete and would have resulted in more empty seats. adding a structure comparable to what is at the end of Boone Pickens on the available footprint would have pushed capacity back over 70k. Focusing on team amenities was absolutely the correct decision.

It was going to still reduce the capacity, just like this project did. The only difference would have been a few more luxury suites and more office space for football operations.

The original plan was to build around the old south structure, which would have resulted in expanded capacity. The only reduction would have been during construction. Sterk made the decision to start from the footings up which was why the project went from $75 million to over $100 million, requiring revenue bonds for final funding.

That was absolutely never the plan. The structure couldn't support any changes in the concourse for amenities. All versions have required tearing down a portion or all of the previous existing south endzone.

Since your reading comprehension has failed you, that article in no way says the original plan was to leave the south bowl as is.

The original plan was (like I already said) to remove a portion of the top of the south bowl and build up against it for the new parts (structurally speaking). it would mildly reduce capacity but it was going to be very expensive trying to tie two different structures together and make it work well.

This was the preferred initial plan because the architects and school officials liked the continuity it offered (looks wise) compared to other options.

quote:Yeah, it’s really pretty awesome. I’ve seen it from the outside at a few hoops games, but seeing it from inside the stadium (near completion)...it’s a great addition. I don’t understand the complaints

So how these projects come about is the AD goes to an Arch firm. They start producing some high level conceptual design renderings. They bring in whichever MEP firm they want to use just to make sure there are no fatal flaws.

At the time, I had contacts at both companies (I work in the industry, and worked at the involved MEP firm at one time) and was able to pick their brains and see the renderings. They were great but the price was just too much.